Chapter 53: Surveillance Restored! Su Chen’s Final Gift!

Halfway Through

Chapter 53: The Surveillance Is Back! Su Chen’s Final Gift!

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Half an hour later.

In the studio behind the Fugitive Hunt livestream, Officer Duan sat in a chair with a blanket draped over him and a steaming cup of hot water clasped in his hands.

“I really was a fool,” he murmured. “I should have realized long ago that Su Chen’s layers of information barriers were nothing but a smokescreen. That obvious tracking route on the webpage was deliberately planted there by him.

“The real ID trail was hidden beneath it, and it was encrypted.

“He even hacked the director’s phone while writing a legendary cheat program that helped his guild place in the top three in the district.

“Though after he left, the guild got reported by the Sky-Blasting Gang…”

Duan Yu kept muttering under his breath. Clearly, he still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

Everything that had happened was still fresh in his mind—and it had all played out under the watchful eyes of ninety million viewers.

Then there was Su Chen’s question in the expert team’s office: “Officer Duan, what are you busy with?”

Duan Yu felt it might be time to move to another planet.

Nearby, chief director Chen Qiming walked over quietly. Seeing Duan Yu’s listless expression, he sighed and rested a hand on his shoulder.

“Officer Duan, don’t dwell on it too much. There’s still a long road ahead.”

Duan Yu nodded and forced a smile. “It’s fine. Life isn’t all that long, anyway. I just have to endure it until it’s over.”

Chen Qiming: “…”

Ever since childhood, Duan Yu had been the sort of kid other parents pointed to as an example: universally recognized as brilliant, with a particular passion and talent for information technology.

Throughout middle and high school, he had won award after award, including a gold medal at the International Olympiad in Informatics. As an adult, he’d also won gold at the World Cybersecurity Competition.

His life had been a smooth ascent, with barely an obstacle in his way.

He had suffered only two setbacks.

The first had been ten years ago, when he’d faced an American and returned in defeat.

Halfway Through

The second was on the Fugitive Hunt livestream.

“At least I haven’t been completely useless on this show.”

Duan Yu took a deep breath, slowly rose, and walked over to the main screen.

“My Skynet may be back online, and the anti-Su Chen app I made for Mr. Cui is ready, too.

“Even though I’ve withdrawn, my technical skills can still help the expert team.”

He turned to Chen Qiming and asked, “Director Chen, could you switch the feed? I’d like to see how the surveillance system is coming along.”

Seeing that Duan Yu had finally regained a little of his spirit, Chen Qiming nodded at once.

“Of course.”

He gestured to the staff in the control room. They immediately got to work, bringing up the expert team’s feed alongside the one from the university district’s power distribution center.

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University District Power Distribution Center.

With Su Chen having given them this opportunity, the staff at the center had taken the chance to run a counterattack-prevention drill.

The security division, monitoring division, and technical department all worked together. They practiced preventing intrusions and handling hazardous materials. They also held a safety briefing for employees, emphasizing that no one should reveal the center’s internal layout to strangers—and that everyone should keep an eye on their ID badges.

Amid the flurry of activity and the simulated “repairs,” Director Huang Tao hurried over to the technicians.

“How’s it going? Can you restore it?”

The lead technician wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded.

“Yes, Director. We’re filling in the final link in the surveillance data chain now. It’ll be connected to the expert team’s office any minute.”

Huang Tao lit up. It was the best news he’d heard in three hours.

“Move faster. Officer Duan and the others are waiting!”

Then he called over several fully armed security officers and handed them the terminal that would receive the surveillance data.

“Take this to the expert team. They’ll be able to receive the surveillance feed once it’s connected.”

This time, having learned from the previous ambush, Huang Tao had put ample safeguards in place. He assigned a large armed escort to transport the equipment, ensuring nothing could go wrong.

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At the same time.

A black police car sat quietly by the road outside the Jinling Public Security Bureau.

Su Chen was sitting inside, holding a phone. The caller ID showed Bai Su.

“Hello, boss. Yeah, that’s right. It’s a huge case—the real culprit in the dismemberment case has been caught. They only got one of them, though. They haven’t found the accomplices…”

Su Chen nodded repeatedly as he spoke. A faint smile played at the corner of his mouth.

“It’s too late to come back tonight, boss. Could you do me a favor and check something?”

“...Does the female suspect have a scar on her neck?”

A moment later, Bai Su’s clear voice came through the phone.

“She does… Su Chen, was that mentioned in the case file?”

At that, Su Chen smiled. Gradually, the smile faded, leaving his face utterly grave.

His deduction had been right. This matter was far more complicated than he’d imagined.

He quickly said a few more words to Bai Su, then hung up.

Su Chen turned to look at the back seat of his car.

A black case lay there.

The squad led by Cui Liwan had already returned to the station to handle the criminals, but another team was still out in the field. Su Chen called its captain.

“Hello, it’s me, Su Chen. Do exactly as I say.

“Get me a car. Not a police car—one without a tracking device. Fill the tank.

“Then head to the university district. I have something I need you to deliver to the expert team.

“I have something to take care of tonight, so I won’t be going in person…”